Sewage Pumps

Sewage Pumps are required where gravity drainage isn’t possible, often due to the location of a property relative to the main sewer.

In many cases – such as when you have a basement in a building, or your property is built below street level – gravity flow of sewage to the main sewer is not possible, in which case a pump will be needed to ensure the effective disposal of foul water.

This is particularly the case in cities such as London, where many buildings have basements, which can be situated below the level of the street sewers.

What Are Sewage Pumps Used For?

Sewage pumps take wastewater from the source, to either the main sewer or a treatment plant. This could range from a single domestic toilet through to every bathroom in a housing estate.

The preferred option on any build is gravity drainage, which involves directing the sewage to flow down the natural slope of the land, however this isn’t always possible. When the room or building is below the level of the main sewer in the road, pumping must be used.

Types of Sewage Pumps

Due to this fact that sewage pumps have to deal mainly with liquids containing solids, they are designed differently from standard water pumps. The technical term of ‘dirty water’ used in pumping means wastewater or sewage containing solids and organic matter.

There are three main types of sewage pumps, which include:

1. Pumps with a Vortex Impeller: These pumps are designed to allow the unimpeded passage of solids. For example, the EVAK Hippo 50 and Hippo 100 have vortex impellers and have a free passage of up to 50mm in diameter. You’ll note in the Hippo pump product video, they are shown pumping table tennis balls without clogging, or without damaging the balls.

2. Grinder Pumps: As the name suggests, there are pumps which have a grinder, in which as you can imagine, grind the matter as its pumped.

3. Cutter Pumps: Cutter pumps, like the APP DSPK Cutter Sewage Pump, are equipped with a cutting blade (similar to a blender) that chops solids into smaller pieces, allowing for easier pumping. These pumps are ideal for handling fibrous or tough materials that would otherwise clog standard pumps.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Sewage Pump

When selecting the right sewage pump, two critical factors need to be evaluated:

1. Head Height: An important factor is ‘head height’. When choosing a sewage pump, the first port of call is usually to understand, as with any pump, what head height is required, i.e, how far are you going to pump upwards, and across land.

This video can help you in understanding the pump curve and selecting the correct pump.

2. Size: Secondly, you need to consider the scale of the pump, for instance a small APP Submersible SV Sewage pump would be adequate for one bathroom, but if you have more, or are serving multiple properties, you’re going to need something more powerful.

Maintenance: De-Ragging Sewage Pumps

All sewage pumps over time can become ‘ragged’ and may need servicing to ‘de-rag’ them.  To avoid this issue, it’s important to only flush toilet paper and organic waste down toilets connected to sewage pumps. Non-flushable items should always be disposed of in the appropriate waste bin.

Purchasing a Sewage Pump

The best place to purchase a Sewage Pump is online at floodandwaterpumps.co.uk. We have spent many years sourcing and honing our product range to ensure that every pump we stock will work for you – we have a sewage pump for every need, big or small. Our robust range of sewage pumps are suitable for all needs from residential homes through to commercial developments.

Need Assistance with Design and Specifying Foul Drainage?

Whether for conversions, new builds, or new developments, foul drainage design is paramount to the success of a project. FPS Environmental Ltd can help if you need to design or dispose of a foul drainage scheme. We can take you through the process, from the initial concept and planning, to detailed system design and more.